Five Things That Could Go Right/Wrong With Van Halen’s New Album

June 26, 2011 176 Comments

Five Things That Could Go Right With Van Halen’s New Album
by: Matthew Wilkening

Any day now, Van Halen is expected to unveil the details of their first full-length album with original lead singer David Lee Roth since ’1984.’ Obviously, any cynic could come up with an article about the Five Things That Could Go Wrong With Van Halen’s New Album, but what if we were to also give this legendary band the respect and faith they’re due, and instead focus on Five Things That Could Go Right With Van Halen’s New Album:

5) ‘Diamond Dave’ is back!
That’s right, for the first time in more than 27 years, the Van Halen brothers will be reunited with original lead singer David Lee Roth on their new album. These guys crawled up from the clubs to sold-out arenas together, and batted six-for-six in terms of awesome albums, so, really, what’s the sense in betting against them to succeed again?

4) Now with 50% more Van Halen!
Yes, the loss of original bassist and back-up vocalist Michael Anthony (who’s currently cavorting with second VH singer Sammy Hagar in Chickenfoot) will hurt Van Halen. Luckily, Eddie Van Halen literally bred the perfect replacement: his own son, Wolfgang, a 20-year-old virtuoso who’s reportedly going to be given more musical room to roam than his predecessor.

3) They do a kick-ass cover or two
Reportedly, the band has toyed for years with the idea of adding Wilson Pickett’s soul classic ‘In the Midnight Hour’ to their list of awesomely-done cover songs. From ‘You Really Got Me’ to ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘You’re No Good,’ cover tunes have always been a highlight of new Van Halen records, and we’re ready for another unique reinvention on their next album.

Read the rest on Ultimate ClassicRock.com.

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Five Things That Could Go Wrong With Van Halen’s New Album
by: Matthew Wilkening

Reportedly, Van Halen’s new album is recorded and soon to be unleashed onto the world. We’re pretty excited about it, as you can tell by our story entitled Five Things That Could Go Right With Van Halen’s New Album. However, it’s been nearly 30 years since the band recorded a new studio album with lead singer David Lee Roth, and they’ve never made one without original bassist Michael Anthony. So, it’s quite natural that fans might be nervous about how it’s all going to work. Here are Five Things That Could Go Wrong With Van Halen’s New Album:

5) David Lee Roth Tries to Actually Sing
Don’t get us wrong — David Lee Roth presided vocally over the best six albums Van Halen ever made, but you can’t call what he does, as tasteful and exciting as it is, singing, exactly. Problem is, working with a strong voice like Sammy Hagar’s seems to have spoiled Eddie Van Halen a bit; how else can you explain whatever Elvis-loungey-croon thing he’s trying to get Roth to do on 1996′s reunion track ‘Me Wise Magic?’ Hopefully “Diamond Dave” is allowed to play to his own strengths on the new Van Halen album.

4) The Songs Are Too Long
Van Halen’s self-titled debut album needed just under 36 minutes to change rock as we knew it. In fact, the six David Lee Roth-era albums clock in at an average time of under 34 minutes. By contrast, the “Van Hagar” records run about 50 minutes each, and ‘Van Halen III,’ with Gary Cherone, occupies nearly an hour. This longer approach may have worked with those two, more pure singers, but as the pair of five-minute-plus songs on 1996′s ‘Best of Volume 1′ (yes, we’re bringing those up again) proves, it doesn’t suit Roth quite so well.

3) Alex Van Halen Breaks Out the Synth-Drums
Of all the fears we have about the new Van Halen album, the prospect of Alex Van Halen breaking out his computerized drum pads, seen hear marring an otherwise organic, rocking live performance of the title track to 1986′s ’5150,’ is admittedly the most far-fetched. In fact, we’re pretty sure we saw him throw these things in the trash sometime in the early ’90s.

Read the rest at Ultimate ClassicRock.com:

Filed Under: Van Halen

Sam

Think of what it must have been like for Eddie to hand the demos to 5150 to Dave. Dave has said since, “it sounded morose”, but at the same time, he demo’d “Good Enough” (or was it, “Get up”?), “Summer Nights”, and probably more we’ve never heard (“Eat thy neighbor). Or when they got together for “Greatest Hits, Vol 1″, and Dave rejected all but “CGTSNM” and “MWM”. Dave probably went through the demos and half of it was thrown out as “WTF?!”. So then you throw a guy – John Shanks – who has all these platinum “pop/rock” hits into the mix. HUGE ego war here, no? But I think the album will end up sounding like a modern version of both of these points in VH history: it won’t be as good as the classic “6 pack”, and not anything as self-indulgent as “Balance” and “VHIII”, but something where everyone compromised. It will have keys on some stuff. It will have kick ass boogie guitar. It will have Dave singing in his “mature” voice, but maybe best-case something along the lines of “Slam Dunk”. It will have a kick ass rhythm section. It will have modern Ed solos. It won’t have Mikey

Bottom line: it probably won’t set the world on fire (like any Stones album after “Tattoo You”), but as a previous poster said (I paraprhase): it will probably keep all the true VH fans happy and be a nice cherry on top of the Van Halen catalog sundae. Something you will enjoy just for it’s “being” as soon as it comes out; something that has songs you might slide into an iTunes playlist of other VH; something that will make us say, “it was worth the wait”.
Halen High

dude says:
“I had always heard that the “super model” in Can’t Get This Stuff No More refers to the VH brothers. Anyone else heard this? Pretty clever and well done if so. If not, still great lyrics.”

David Lee Roth Interview, Slawterhouse Magazine 1999:

DLR: “The very first words from, ‘Can’t get this stuff no more’, I have every right to be conceded although I’m not at all. Let’s just investigate the first verse. ‘I got a date with a supermodel,’ no, not Christy Turlington, the Van Halen brothers.”

SM: So the supermodel is the Van Halen brothers?

DLR: Oh yeah. You know the definition of a model right? A small replica of the real thing.”

Dave goes on to explain in detail how the lyrics pertain to his experience of working with the brothers again, before finishing with:

DLR: “‘Can’t get this stuff no more’, you cannot break up a dynasty.”
Halen High

Dooley says:

“Hey Halen High, howzit!!”

I’m great mate! And I think you just named all the Sammy era songs I like. Yeah, Love Walks In is much maligned – but I like the guitar solo (which I believe is Sammy?) Haven’t listened to any Van Hagar albums for years…

Regarding I’ll Wait – I always used to skip that song – now I like it. Secrets is another one. Never used to like it, then it grew on me.
anythingleftinthatbottle

@carnel Knowledge: I ALWAYS dis- agree with you about hagar, but I have always wanted to hear someone cover ‘Devil went down to Georgia’ in a rock version with guitar instead of fiddle. We almost worked it up in my old band back in the day.

I don’t think there will be any covers on this album unless it’s a ghost track like in the old days.

Side note to carnel knowledge. Re-read the hagar book and pay attention to his obvious insecurities! He really should be grateful to VH for his wealth. I promise he wouldn’t have it with out them and Roth’s hard work building this band from nothing!
Halen High

Carnal Knowledge says:

“A Cover song I’d like to see:

Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

I don’t know that song – will check it out.
jeff adams

The 5 things right and the 5 things wrong about this album mean nothing to me. The 1 thing right is David Lee Roth.
littledreamer

@jeff adams
“The 5 things right and the 5 things wrong about this album mean nothing to me. The 1 thing right is David Lee Roth.”

… and that’s the quote of the day!
Dooley

Yeah, Halen High, that is Sam on guitar on Love Walks In, both on Live Without a Net…and although the liner notes for 5150 don’t say, the guitar work for the studio version as well, it sounds non-Ed, so it must be Sam. Sam’s no Ed, but when it was his turn to play guitar, he delivered and did those songs justice.

Speaking of LWAN, that was one of Van Hagar’s strengths, the fact that nothing was piped in. But they did pipe in keyboards on the very uneven 2004 tour. I say uneven because I saw them in Portland OR…the first half hour was shit because of Ed. And Sam was like…if he don’t care why should I??? and started signing autographs when he should have been singing, etc. But after Alex’s drum solo, things improved greatly, and I was glad I went. 3rd row, nearly got one of Ed’s picks, at least it made contact with my knuckle before some other much bigger guy got it. I didn’t challenge him. Yeah, Secrets is great.
Rob

You guys are right I will rip on Sammy no more. It’s true Van Hagar had some real gems as well although I don’t really agree that CVH put out any turds. I am just so bothered by Sammy’s beach ball persona and business antics on stage, I just can’t let it go. Nonetheless this article is about the music and truth be told I really enjoyed both eras although the CVH never gets stale – it doesn’t matter what mood I;m in, if a CVH song comes on the radio I will turn it up and enjoy it and truthfully not all the Van Hagar tunes have the same affect on me although I say again the 5150 cd rocks from start to finish. No more bashing, BRING ON THE NEW MUSIC!
Black Sand 78

I’m very skeptical about a new Van Halen single being released on Fourth of July weekend. I’d be shocked if it happened.

And I hope I eat my words. But I still firmly believe that a new VH album is in the crystal ball. It’s just a matter of time. We’ve come too far to turn back now. I fully understand the doubters out there. After all, a year ago last summer is when reports surfaced of a new Van Halen album being nearly finished.

And although we are still greeted by a ridiculously outdated New Year’s greeting day after day after day after day on the band’s website, there are too many legitimate signs pointing toward a release late this summer or in the fall. The tidbits have been steady and tantalizing. The Van Halen News Desk reports. The tweet by producer John Shanks. Soundwave Revolution. Eddie Van Halen’s photo with the Pearl Jam guitarist. Eddie Trunk. No denials from the band’s publicist. Slash’s comments. Mark Tremonti.

The album to be heard around the world is drawing near. But I’m not getting my hopes too high for an Independence Day single. Until I read a report by the trusted News Desk, which is not quick to publish a rumor without confirmation from its sources, I won’t believe a single is around the corner.
Denny

Van Halen needs to rock like rock needs Van Halen. And an aside, if you have a combined score for guitar playing ability and vocal prowess then Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is king…
skutch

The songs will speak for themselves. If they rock, they rock. If they suck, they suck. I’m not expecting Fair Warning II, but I’m not going to pretend to like it if I don’t. Fingers crossed…..
Ari

I just realized the main thing that could go wrong with the new album and it’s an obvious one. It never gets released. My heart and head tells me it’s a go this time, but I’m still waiting for the official press release.
chrisom

Carnal Knowledge says: “A Cover song I’d like to see: Devil Went Down to Georgia.”

I bet that VH could do a KILLER version of “Devil Went Down To Jamaica”… People would LOVE that…
Jason

Five things the guy that wrote this should do…..

1: Hide
2: Leave
3: Fall off the face of the earth
4: Admit you are wrong and stupid
5: Hide
6: (bonus) Get a job…..

Electric Drums…….. Come on Dumb-ass !!
Panama Red

Rob, I’m glad you’ve settled down a bit, I was a little worried for you. I thought anyone who says that for writing a book about his life and experiences, Sammy Hagar should be shot and pissed on…has some issues. Sounds personal to me. But maybe you just have a little bit of a temper, like me.
But that was pretty extreme.
I was about to ask Dooley to write you out a prescription ASAP for a bowl, vape rip, bong hit or a big fat blunt. Or all of the above LOL! Nobody would want to shoot anyone after that, and as long as you don’t chug down some beers after that, you won’t want to piss on anyone either
Atomic Pete

Um… Ed plays the “Love Walks In” solo on 5150.
Sammy only plays it on Live Without A Net.
Anyone who thinks that is Sammy needs to turn
in their =VH= membership card.
Panama Red

@ Sparks in ‘11 – Do you honestly believe Mike has never said good things about Dave?
With all due respect to your point about “Eat‘EM and Smile” not having Mike’s back up vocals and still doing just fine – well, that was pretty much an entirely different band. It was stylistically different — different guitar player, different bass player, different drummer. I don’t expect it to have the same CVH sound because it wasn’t CVH.
I’m not saying I won’t Rock Out to the new VH album or that it won’t be amazing. All I’m saying is that Van Halen will always be lacking some of that original, magic, energy and sound as long as it’s without Mikey.
I’m sure the new Van Halen will still kick ass, I just wish it was kicking ass with ALL the Originators of the 1978 Van Halen.
I’m still looking forward to it even though I feel like some of the wind has been let out of the sails.
The original Van Halen was the muscle car with the biggest engine at the drag strip. I feel that Mike’s absence basically means that in some instances, it will seem that vocally (specifically some of the classic songs and possibly some newer songs) a “governor” has been put on that big powerful V8 supercharged engine.

What’s equally important to me as Mike’s vocal contributions is his presence on stage. I want to see Mike beating the crap out of his bass while Eddie is shredding, Alex is making the whole place vibrate and Dave is front and center doing his thang. I want the real thing. I’m stoked for the new release but I feel like we are being forced to settle somewhat. I guess at this point we should all take what we can get from Van Halen and party our asses off regardless.
It’s not like Mike is gone, He’s gonna be rocking out with Chickenfoot!
Expanded Consciousness

I can never understand why many rate “Me Wise Magic” over “Can’t Get This Stuff No More.” I was so glad to have both, of course. Yet, it is so clear to my ears that “Can’t Get This Stuff No More” is the song that works because it features Dave within his range (cool, low-baritone) and not reaching out of his range (screechy high) as heard in parts of “Me Wise Magic.” Any good producer will keep Dave in his range, so I remain hopeful for the new album.

If it features 10 songs the quality of “Can’t Get This Stuff No More” I will listen to the album every day for a year, easily.
Halen High

Dooley says:
“I was glad I went. 3rd row, nearly got one of Ed’s picks, at least it made contact with my knuckle before some other much bigger guy got it. I didn’t challenge him. Yeah, Secrets is great.”

I think you did the right thing – not challenging the bigger guy that is! Speaking of guitar picks, this reminds me of a Pat Benatar gig (I’ve been in love with Pat since the early 80s – I’m still convinced we would have made a great couple ) Anyway, I reached for one of Neil Giraldo’s picks, it bounced off me, hit the floor and there was a stand-off between myself and a very attractive young lady. She smiled, I did the gentleman thing – and let her have it. The pick that is
Panama Red

@ freddiegirl – I hope you don’t regard me as a Debbie Downer-ish type when I bring up Mike but I have to be honest when I say for as long as I live it will always bother me that Mike was disrespectfully booted out of Van Halen and how everythng went down (like the removal of Mike’s image from the album covers on the VH website and all that stupid shit.)
I think it’s great that Wolfie got his Dad back in line and inspired him to get his shit together and make more music but for as long as I’m around, it will always rub me the wrong way when I think about what happened with Mike.

But there are a few things I am happy about, regarding Mike’s departure from Van Halen. Some of the time (especially towards the end of his time in VH) it felt like Mike’s contributions were restricted and held back. It’s like Eddie just didn’t want him around and wanted to exclude him from the band in some ways. Also, it seemed that sometimes Ed and Al didn’t give him much room to lay down some cool bass grooves and his bass was buried in the mix on some VH albums.
I think with Chickenfoot his leash has come off and he’s happier in that he’s allowed to showcase his talent even more so than ever. It’s like everyone shines equally and shares center stage. He doesn’t have to “stand in the shadow” ,so to speak, or just lay down a simple bass line so Eddie and Al can go crazy.
Not ragging on Van Halen, I’ll always LOVE VH, I’m just saying, there are some good things too about Mike not being in VH now (that I should remind myself of more often)
I’m sorry that it seems I sometimes dwell on the negativity surrounding Mike’s departure from VH. I just love my band so much and I want to see it in all of it’s glory.
I guess Van Halen’s loss is Chickenfoot’s gain. Mikey makes Chickenfoot that much better. I wish he could be in both bands…okay I’ll make myself stop now. Sorry, I got a buzz going
Halen High

Black Sand 78 says:
“I’m very skeptical about a new Van Halen single being released on Fourth of July weekend. I’d be shocked if it happened.”

You are probably right – you would think the VHND, with their impeccable sources, would have told us something by now.

Unless they’ve been told to sit on the story because…….. it’s all about the surprise!
Panama Red

@ dan slaughter – I have thought that same exact thing. Some older bands are going on tour and playing their classic albums from start to finish and it would be absolutely amazing to hear Fair Warning in it’s entirety. Either Fair Warning or VH1 or 1984, those would be my top 3 picks. (Fair Warning being #1) I’d like to hear 1984 mainly for the deeper cuts like Drop Dead Legs, Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain.
I guess the danger in doing that would be the idea that VH is becoming only a nostalgia act and I certainly don’t want that. I want them to move forward and continue to create new music. But since Fair Warning is such a short album, your idea of breaking into it mid show is a great idea. They could start out the show with some new material, then bust out Fair Warning and then close the show with some more new material. I would rob, steal and murder to see that.

@ Denny – Good post. I agree with what you said about David Gilmour. One of the most unforgettable, most incredible experiences in my life was seeing Pink Floyd. It wasn’t a rock concert, it was more like a spiritual experience. Fucking Amazing!!
Sparks in ’11

Dooley said- “Yeah, Halen High, that is Sam on guitar on Love Walks In, both on Live Without a Net…and although the liner notes for 5150 don’t say, the guitar work for the studio version as well, it sounds non-Ed, so it must be Sam. ”

Waitaminute waitaminute waitaminute. I think you’re dismissing a speculation as fact here. I remember interviews where Sam said he played no guitar on the album and besides, on the studio version, the tone is Ed’s and the inclining run at the end, it’s him. I do however like what Sam did on LWAN, though. He popped in little flourishes here and there and makes it more guitar heavy of a song which is something it truly needed. Definitely one of their worst songs IMO.
Halen High

Sparks in ’11 – well whoever it was playing the solo in Cheese Walks In – I liked it. All I remember is Sammy playing the solo on LWAN. I think Eddie was busy playing keyboards……

I just assumed Sambo also played it in the studio. We need confirmatiom from a diehard Van Hagar fan.

Carnal Knowledge?
3hater

Here’s a question…which Hagar era songs would you like to hear the current Vh line up perform?

Not many songs would fit with Dave but a few might be interesting. I’d like to hear “Finish What Ya Started” because Dave would own that song, but would it work with the MA background vocals? I say yes!
Karl

Denny says:
“And an aside, if you have a combined score for guitar playing ability and vocal prowess then Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is king…”

Spot on.
ringostore

“his son Wolfgang, an amazingly talented musician,”

pfftwhat??? he is? I guess give him a chance, he’s young yet.
Eddie Van Wailin’

Denny- Think you have to put Clapton right there with Gilmour..
Bocephus

Roth never really could belt em out…that being said it will all be cleaned up on the new album in the studio.

Live will be another thing. 3 new songs on the Tour with much of the same listings as previous from their monster catalogue.

Al will not be playing synth drums.

Looks to be a little less experimental than VH3.

Ed as daring as he is musically does not want a repeat performance.

As always a very successful Tour on tap…with more of the same from Dave. Wolfie gets loose(r) and that’s a good thing.
Eddie Van Wailin’

I’m 99% sure Eddie played both the main solo and the outro solo on Love Walks In. If you listen to the solo on the RHRN live version it’s definitely Ed and it is virtually identical to the album version in tone and structure, with some improv sprinkled in (also a very underrated live solo IMO, Eddie crushes it).

Sam’s version on LWAN is much different than the album version.
Ian

I wish people would get over Mike. He’s gone. Ed fired him. End of story. He’s a Chickenfoot guy now. Let’s move on.

I don’t know how anybody can gauge Wolfgang’s abilities from performances three years ago, playing old VH songs. I mean, you could never really hear Mike anyway. The kid has the genes. He’s been playing guitar since he was able to hold one and had EDDIE VAN HALEN to teach him stuff.

John Shanks will make sure the songs are good. Warner won’t take another risk. Eddie’s riffs, Alex’s awesome grooves and basslines you can ACTUALLY HEAR, plus Roth. Guaranteed win.
Ted Simpleton

@3hater – not terribly relevant, here, since the songs we want to hear CVH play live are. . . CVH!!!

However, kudos to you as the topic does raise one interesting, personal notion for me.

I’d love to hear Dave on Summer Nights. Didn’t he cut a demo before his departure? Can anybody verify?
Bocephus

OT:

Pink Floyd operates on a completely different plane than any band in the history of music.

Nobody is even close.

Marginalities exist among many of the great rock bands such as Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Rush etc.

Pink Floyd is clearly in a league of their own.
RobCT

Eddie played the solo to Love Walks In in the studio version. His tone and phrasing are unmistakeable. After listening and playing EVH and Sam stuff for 20 years the difference is easy to hear in the two styles. Sam plays it live because Eddie played the keys on that song.
http://hubcapdave.blogspot.com HubcapDave

@ 3hater – I could see Roth pulling off Finish What Ya Started with his own twist to it. Don’t know if there’s much else I’d like to see him sing, though.
Panama Red

@ Bocephus – Very Well Said about Pink Floyd. I couldn’t agree more. I’ve seen many great bands Live. I’ve seen Van Halen many times and always had a blast. I remember the first time I saw Van Halen the most because I was in such complete Awe of Eddie Van Halen, he blew me away, but there was something different about Pink Floyd. It is kind of hard to describe but like I said earlier it wasn’t just a rock concert. That performance affected me and moved me in a way that I never felt before or since.
TearItUp

“Here’s a question…which Hagar era songs would you like to hear the current Vh line up perform?”

NONE!!! The first 6 classic albums plus the new one are plenty enough ammunition to keep my ears happy!!
MasVH

ENOUGH already with the Love Walks In babble!

VH won’t be playing that number live anyways…thankfully.
Carnal Knowledge

Halen High: It was ALWAYS my assumption that Eddie laid down/wrote all the stringed music: lead guitars, rhythm guitars, and bass. Then, Mike would come in and play it. The leads were dubbed in over Eddie’s rhythm. That was always my assumption, and the ‘bass’ part is backed up by Mike’s confirmation……I doubt Eddie would’ve wanted Sammy playing any studio guitars…..

anythingleftinthatbottle: No thanks on reading Sammy’s book to confirm anything. I saw the dude 8 times before Van Halen, and he was doing just fine. He might not’ve became Mr. Cabo Wabo tequilla, but he was doing great. Headlining and selling out arenas. The rest is just bells and whistles my friend…..let it go. Dump the “sappy ballads” on the Van Hagar collection and the rest is plenty ROCKIN
Panama Red

anythingleftinthatbottle said –

“Side note to carnel knowledge. Re-read the hagar book and pay attention to his obvious insecurities! He really should be grateful to VH for his wealth. I promise he wouldn’t have it with out them and Roth’s hard work building this band from nothing!”

If you go back and reread the book you’ll notice that Sammy was considering retiring (or at least taking some time off)from the music industry after doing one more album and tour before Eddie called him up and asked him to join the band. Sammy was already financially set for life from the success of his music career and side businesses (bike stores, sprinkler company, travel agency, apt. buildings). Oh and by the way, he also built his wealth from nothing. He started out dirt poor and worked his ass off. It’s in the book too.

I believe VH brought him to new heights which he never would have reached without them. I do believe he owes a lot of his major successes from being in Van Halen. But people seem to (selectively?) forget that he already had a very successful music career and he was already filthy stinking rich before he joined VH.
I don’t give two shits if somebody has 20 million in their bank account or two dollars, I’m just trying to make a point. It rubs me wrong when it is implied that Sammy owes EVERYTHING to VH, ALL his success, ALL his money. C’mon…not trying to feud here but to say he wouldn’t have his wealth without Van Halen is just untrue. He may not be quite as wealthy now if he wasn’t asked to join VH, but who cares. I don’t. Money, status, material crap doesn’t mean shit to me. That ain’t what Life is about. All that kind of thinking gets in the way of really living.

Roth deserves a lot of credit for the early success of VH but let’s try to remain objective. It doesn’t really make sense to say Sammy was successful because of David Lee Roth. If anything, when he joined Van Halen, there was a pretty steep hill to climb to prove to the fans he was the real deal. He already had his own fan base but he had to impress VH fans like he impressed the rest of the band. He had a big spot to fill.
Some people left the VH bandwagon after Roth left, some didn’t, and many more fans were made after the fact.
Sammy Hagar’s success in VH was mostly due to Sammy Hagar and being in a band with such incredible, outstanding musicians.
http://www.ievolvedintothis.com Ken_A

Ed was grousing about Mike’s lack of contributions in the writing process as far back as Fair Warning. As far as I know, the extent of Ed’s creative control back then was sneaking into the studio at night so he could do some work while nobody else was around. Mike’s most identifiable mark on the band is his background vocals, which–as much as they add to the sound of the songs–are not the most indispensable element. Not by a long shot.

I don’t want to downplay Mike’s contribution. In a perfect world, they’d all be getting along and we could have a fantasy version of Van Halen that included all four original guys, plus Wolf… hell, maybe even plus Sam.

But that world doesn’t exist. Dave and Wolf are in VH now, Sam and Mike are doing very well for themselves in CF, and that’s a pretty awesome situation if you ask me.
Sparks in ’11

@Panama- I only brought up Eat’em & Smile to make a point that Dave’s vocals weren’t dependent on “soaring high backing vocals”. As far as Mike being “kind” to ol’ Dave, see the Mike interview in the next thread. He wastes no time in taking shots when he thinks he can. He’d be better off saying “no comment” sometimes.
Halen High

3hater says:
“Here’s a question…which Hagar era songs would you like to hear the current Vh line up perform?”

None.
3hater

@TearItUp – I agree, but it would be interesting
whambamsam

The 5 things that REALLY could wrong with the new VH album:

1) Eddie
2) Dave
3) Eddie and Dave
4) Dave and Eddie
5) EVH + DLR = EGOx2
pat

@3hater..i dont think they should try any van hagar songs because roth struggles with stuff from when he was in the band live enough as it is plus if they did that roth would want to do some of that solo crap and i wouldnt want to put eddie,alex and wanna be mike thru that.
Expanded Consciousness

Classic Van Halen should only do Classic Van Halen and the new record live. No way they should do Van Hagar.

That said, “Yankee Rose,” “Ladies’ Nite In Buffalo,” “Goin’ Crazy” all would fit into the vibe of a Van Halen show better than any Van Hagar.
http://u holmes

Prediction – It won’t live up to the hype. All the once great bands comebacks fall flat of expectations and I do not see this one as any different. Too bad though.
Marcin

So, could Dave sing or not?

“David Lee Roth presided vocally over the best six albums Van Halen ever made, but you can’t call what he does, as tasteful and exciting as it is, singing, exactly.

Problem is, working with a strong voice like Sammy Hagar’s seems to have spoiled Eddie Van Halen a bit”

I think Sammy is satisfied with that statement.